Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-07


and she becomes his spouse. SUCH emo
tions as loxe, tenderness, or endearment
are unknown; the woman is simply re-
gardcd As worker, to sew and cook.
Upon the least at Of anger upon his part
cuffs, blows and kicks are showered upon
her, but these do not create much aston
ishnent in the village, simply form ne a
theme Of gossip among the old women.
Women do by far the greatest share Of
labor. 1t is their lot to drag the seals
over the ice when shot; to tramp miles
to fetch deer or other game to the vii
lage; to cook, to make fires, sew. and re-
pair boats aud garments, and attend TO
every matter of household duty. The
noble lord of creation confines himself to
hunting and trapping.
A belief in the presence Of evil spirits
constitutes the only religious, IDEAS
among the mutes. There are among them
individuals called Toonrachs, CORE
spending to the shaman of the Siberian
tribes. If person is sick before the
whaling season commences, or child is
born before going ona journey, or build
ing house, the services Of the sham ID
is called into requisitlon. The modus
operandi m every case is very s milar.
The shaman, after a long spell of silence,
suddenly begins to roll his eyes convui-
sive shakes pervade his frame, and lie
gives utterance to various groans and
sighs intermingled with sentences per
tanning to the subject upon which he is
engaged. During the time of his per-
Torrance continuous beating uron Il
drum is kept UP. Toward the end par
oxysms. or rather commissions Of exulta-
tions similar to what have been de-
scribed as prevailing ut the finale of
Shaker meeting, are exhibited by the
shaman. Froth exudes from his mouth,
his eyes glare and roll, and his whole
frame is contorted. Precipitation pours
from his face, and he is entirely ex-.
hausted. The loud invocations to the
evil spirits to vacate the body Of the sick
person. or to drive them awav from the
sea to enable the whales or seals to ar
rive, become gradually subdued, dying
away into incoherent mutterings Then
after while he regains his composure,
complaccntly smokes his pipe, and re-
ceives his pay for services performed
If the operation is performed over sick
person and recovery docs not ensue the
payment made is returned, custom that
might be adyantageously adopted among
civilized persons.
Some curious superstitions are also to
be noted. If a person is sick, iron tools,
such as axes or knives, cannot be hsed in
the house. Upon mans grave his sled
is placed, but broken to pieces, and his
kYack meets similar usage, Furs, spears,
and rifles are also deposited, while if the
individual has killed many whales the
long iawbones. of the BAHAMA are placed
in an upright position to mark the spot.
These people bury their dead upon the
ground, raising d number of pieces of
driftwood in the shape Of a tent over the
remains. Owing to this insecure mode
Of burial the wood soon falls down and
affords entrance to foxes and dogs, who
make havoc with the. body. But little
regard is paid to the burial place, al
though these mutes are very much in
censed whenever attempts arc made to
take away skulls or bones from the grave
yards. y They also make q long detJur in
passing tho resting place Of che dead,
and Will on no account touch anything
once deposited at d burial.
"A woman's grave has her clothing,
sewing gear. and various household uten-
sils placed upon it. One Of the most pc
culiar acts heard Of took place in the
month Of May, during the whaling sea
son, at Point Hope. woman died and
her body was carried Out to the edge Of
the ice. Three old women cut her heart
out, wrapped in a covering Of seal in
testines, and threw it into the sea
through a hole in the foe. This was.
done in order to bring good luck tothei
catch.
On the two corners Of the lips Of the